GAME INFORMATION
CENTRAL ARKANSAS (11-14, 7-9 Southland) vs Nicholls (9-16, 6-10)
Feb. 22, 2020 • 1:00pm • Farris Center • Conway, Ark.
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SERIES HISTORY
Sugar Bears lead 17-9
Sugar Bears won last meeting
Sugar Bears won 6 of last 8
Sugar Bears lead 8-3 in Conway

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Central Arkansas
Points Per Game: Taylor Sells (9.7)
Rebounds Per Game: Hannah Langhi (6.1)
Assists Per Game: Taylor Sells (2.9)
Blocks: Hannah Langhi (25)
Steals: Taylor Sells (29)

Nicholls
Points Per Game: Chrystal Ezechukwu (13.5)
Rebounds Per Game: Chrystal Ezechukwu (6.1)
Assists Per Game: Tykeria Williams (4.3)
Blocks: Chrystal Ezechukwu (22)
Steals: Tykeria Williams (61)


CONWAY — With four regular-season games remaining and the push toward the Southland Conference tournament hitting the home stretch, much is at stake for the Sugar Bears on Saturday when they host the Nicholls Colonels at 1:00pm in the Farris Center. The game will be the first half of a doubleheader, with the men's teams to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.

The Sugar Bears (11-14, 7-9 Southland) enter Saturday's contest against Nicholls (9-16, 6-10) with a one-game lead over the Colonels in the Southland standings for the 8th and final berth in the conference tournament. The Sugar Bears, who have the league's longest active streak with 9 straight appearances in Katy (having qualified for the tournament every season since becoming Division-I postseason eligible in 2011), could build a two-game lead over the Colonels and own the tiebreaker by virtue of a season sweep with a win on Saturday. Nicholls, meanwhile, is looking to draw even with the Sugar Bears and earn a split in the season series.

The Colonels finish out the regular season with opponents that are currently a combined 14-31 in conference play, including Houston Baptist and McNeese –  tied for last place in the league standings at 2-13 – and 5th-place New Orleans. The Sugar Bears' final three opponents are 22-24, including a trip to 4th-place Abilene Christian (11-4), a home game against a 7th-place Southeastern Louisiana (7-8) team that defeated the Sugar Bears by 21 in Hammond last month, and finishing up at home against a 4-12 Northwestern State squad that they defeated 51-44 in Natchitoches.

Nicholls comes to Conway riding a 3-game winning streak, having won 62-60 at Lamar before defeating Southeastern Louisiana (54-49) and Northwestern State (73-66) in Thibodaux. The Sugar Bears have dropped their last three, with losses to league leader Stephen F. Austin; 2nd-place Sam Houston State; and 5th-place UNO by an average of 16 points per game. 

The Sugar Bears defeated the Colonels 53-46 in Thibodaux on Jan. 18, in a game in which they were able to overcome losing the turnover battle 24-8 and being outscored 17-5 at the free throw line – largely by outrebounding the Colonels 41-26 and holding Nicholls to just 25.9 percent shooting from the field, including 1-of-10 from 3-point range. In that game, Hannah Langhi had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks; while Briana Trigg had 14 points and Ayanna Trigg had 8 points and 13 rebounds. 

The Colonels rank 9th nationally in free throws made at 386, compared to just 241 for the Sugar Bears; and are 14th nationally in steals per game with 11.0. Nicholls is also among the nation's leaders in forcing turnovers, ranking 32nd at 19.7 per game. The Sugar Bears have the nation's 37th-ranked scoring defense, allowing 57.4 points per game; and are 35th in rebound margin at +6.9 per game, tops in the Southland. 

The Sugar Bears will be going for their 7th win in their last 9 games against the Colonels, having won five straight in the series before being swept last season. The Colonels have won just three times in Conway – 68-62 in 2013; 75-72 in 2015; and 64-60 last season.

After Saturday's game, the Sugar Bears will be off on Wednesday before visiting ACU next Saturday. The regular season wraps at home the following week, with Southeastern Louisiana visiting the Farris Center on March 4, and Northwestern State on the 7th.